Ikuchi Island – Kosanji Temple's five-tiered pagoda is also located on Ikuchi Island.

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Innoshima Bridge – Innoshima Bridge is one of seven bridges on the Shimanami Kaido route.

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Onomichi – The town of Onomichi, viewed from Senkoji Park.

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Hotel Cycle – No need to park outside here. Onomichi's Hotel Cycle has a bike rack next to the check-in desk. The town is a popular starting and ending point for those hitting the Shimanami Kaido bike trail.

(CNN)Japan's Shimanami Kaido might be an expressway, but it was designed with the cyclist in mind.

A spectacular 60-kilometer road-and-bridge network connecting Japan's main island of Honshu with Shikoku (the nation's fourth largest island), it spans six smaller islands in the process and features bike and pedestrian lanes for its entire length.

The sublime scenery of the Shimanami Kaido (Island-Wave-Sea Route) runs from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture down to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture.

Whichever way you travel, the views of the Seto Inland Sea National Park are sublime.

Cycling gives you the freedom to stop for a photo halfway across a bridge or detour to investigate lighthouses, shrines and natural wonders most automobile travelers zip past.

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With 14 cycle rental terminals along the way, you can go at your own pace, spend a night at a campsite or inn or just hand your bike in at the nearest rental terminal and hop on a bus.

Some terminals even have electric bicycles for hire.

Experienced cyclists will be able to complete the entire route -- there are a few challenging spots -- in a few hours.

As for Onomichi itself, the town was built on a hillside overlooking the sea, so the best way to see it before you head onto the Shimanami Kaido is to catch the ropeway to the top of Senkoji Hill and enjoy the panorama.

The walk down the Path of Literature is pleasant -- it winds past past boulders engraved with works by famous writers who've stayed in Onomichi over the centuries.

The Shimanami Kaido route.

You'll see the splendid Senkoji Temple, which dates from 806 AD, one of the oldest temples in Japan.

A stamina boost comes in the form of Onomichi's legendary ramen.

Tsutafuji is one of the most popular ramen shops in town.

It's a mom and pop waterfront bar near the JR station that's been open more than 50 years.

There are just 10 stools inside, so you may have wait a while.

Once inside, you'll get a bowlful of noodles topped with pork in a pork-bone-and-fish broth.